Antonyms for hold backhold back

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hold back

   To restrain is to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force. Constrain is positive; restrain is negative; one is constrained to an action; he is restrained from an action. Constrain refers almost exclusively to moral force, restrain frequently to physical force, as when we speak of putting one under restraint. To restrain an action is to hold it partially or wholly in check, so that it is under pressure even while it acts; to restrict an action is to fix a limit or boundary which it may not pass, but within which it is free. To repress, literally to press back, is to hold in check, and perhaps only temporarily, that which is still very active; it is a feebler word than restrain; to suppress is finally and effectually to put down; suppress is a much stronger word than restrain; as, to suppress a rebellion. Compare ARREST; BIND; KEEP.

   Antonyms:
   aid, animate, arouse, emancipate, encourage, excite, free, impel, incite, let loose, release, set free

   Synonyms:
   abridge, bridle, check, circumscribe, confine, constrain, curb, hinder, hold, hold in, keep, keep back, keep down, keep in, keep under, repress, restrain, restrict, suppress, withhold

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Defend
   • Keep
   • Refrain

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. check, turn back, arrest, stop, contain, hold backverb

   hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of

   "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism"

   Synonyms:
   ensure, hold on, hold in, bar, collar, jibe, incorporate, tick off, control, carry, fit, gibe, run off, hold, moderate, cop, learn, checker, barricade, check out, mark off, retain, stop, pick up, condition, double back, assure, finish, tally, comprise, reverse, return, suss out, kibosh, check off, check over, stop over, match, check up on, cease, look into, ascertain, mark, insure, regress, forbear, go over, check, train, arrest, lay off, retrovert, quit, chase away, hold off, take, conceal, halt, block, catch, find out, see, discipline, terminate, wait, drive off, get, give up, nail, backtrack, intercept, revert, correspond, curb, restrain, keep, drive away, keep back, check into, blockade, contain, invert, bear, determine, nab, dispel, retard, crack, turn back, watch, block off, break off, see to it, break, discontinue, end, block up, tick, chequer, drive out, apprehend, agree, delay

2. restrain, keep, keep back, hold backverb

   keep under control; keep in check

   "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"

   Synonyms:
   intimidate, retain, hold off, throttle, restrict, hold on, continue, withhold, save, stay fresh, trammel, go along, wait, hold in, stop, encumber, turn back, celebrate, hold open, keep, proceed, cumber, observe, forbear, go on, constrain, hold, conceal, confine, preserve, prevent, arrest, restrain, bound, keep open, keep on, maintain, limit, contain, keep back, sustain, check

3. forbear, hold backverb

   refrain from doing

   "she forbore a snicker"

   Synonyms:
   hold in, keep, restrain, hold off, hold, check, conceal, retain, contain, keep back, forbear, wait, stop, arrest, refrain, turn back

4. wait, hold off, hold backverb

   wait before acting

   "the scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment"

   Synonyms:
   await, waitress, hold in, keep, restrain, hold off, hold, look, check, conceal, retain, contain, keep back, forbear, wait, stop, expect, arrest, turn back

5. retain, hold, keep back, hold backverb

   secure and keep for possible future use or application

   "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"

   Synonyms:
   accommodate, wait, book, retain, withhold, moderate, view as, support, apply, harbour, defend, take hold, bind, deem, hold up, continue, hold off, take, have, concord, check, make, admit, go for, take for, throw, defy, control, turn back, harbor, keep, obligate, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, forbear, nurse, oblige, curb, hold, conceal, confine, have got, arrest, restrain, withstand, agree, hold in, halt, contain, keep on, concur, maintain, guard, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, obtain, declare, stop, bear

6. conceal, hold back, hold inverb

   hold back; keep from being perceived by others

   "She conceals her anger well"

   Synonyms:
   arrest, keep, restrain, confine, hold off, moderate, hold in, hold, check, conceal, retain, contain, keep back, forbear, enclose, wait, stop, hide, curb, control, turn back

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hold back

   Synonyms:
   check, restrain, impede, curb, retard

How to use hold back in a sentence?

1. Nancy Lopez:

   When we were talking I was tearing up, i was trying to hold back tears because there's so much pride involved in this.

2. Enrico Caruso:

   I know that I shall sing only a certain number of times. So I think to myself, Tonight I will hold back my voice. I will save it a little and that will mean I may be able to sing a few more times. But when I go before the audience, when I hear the music and begin to sing, I cannot hold back. I give the best there is in me - I give all.

3. Jon Cooper:

   The regular season clearly helped him out, but you’ve got to be fearless. You can’t have reservations. You can’t hold back. When you start playing not to lose, that’s basically when you’re going to lose. These guys that attack situations and have confidence with it usually have success.

4. An Ofcom spokesman:

   This litigation threatens to hold back that progress for people and businesses, so we're extremely disappointed some companies have chosen to put commercial interest ahead of the national interest.

5. Ryan Lochte:

   I'm just happy I'm going to Rio and I'm representing my country, every race hurts. You can't hold back, you've just got to go out there and give it your all.

How to pronounce hold back?

How to say hold back in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency